Should the federal government declare war on obesity?

Some people think it’s time for that drastic step, something like a modern version of the “war on poverty.”

A new report said 42% of Americans could be obese by 2030, and 11% could be severely obese. Those numbers have convinced some that it’s time for the feds to do more than watch this crisis unfold.

“The obesity problem is likely to get much worse without a major public health intervention,” said Eric Finkelstein, a health economist with Duke University Global Health Institute and lead researcher on the new study, in USA Today.

And the paper quoted another expert as saying, “If nothing is done (about obesity), it’s going to hinder efforts for health care cost containment,” says Justin Trogdon, a research economist with RTI International, a non-profit research organization in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

Whaddya think?

— Should the feds act now, or is this not an issue for government?

— Should unhealthy food get special taxes to discourage its consumption?

— Should overweight people have to pay more for health insurance?

— What other government measures, if any, would you support in a ‘war on obesity’?